A Guide to the Papers of Imamu Amiri Baraka, 1960-1963
A Collection in the
Clifton Waller Barrett Library
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 7884
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
Papers of Imamu Amiri Baraka, Accession #7884 , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was purchased by the Library on March 30, 1965.
Scope and Content Information
The papers consist of letters and postcards to Diane Di Prima. As joint editor, with Di Prima, of the poetry magazine Floating Bear , Baraka suggests material for the magazine, forwards new subscriber information, and asks that certain new magazines be noted in "Floating Bear."
Baraka mentions his own work, assesses some of his poems, and notes "Eyes in the Back of our Heads" by Denise Levertov, "Man Condemned to Death" by Jean Genet, and "Cain's Book" by Alex Trocchi. He writes of teaching at the New School for Social Research, contracting hepatitis from dirty needles, and being locked up at Bellevue. He mentions his parents, his family, Larry Wallrich, Alfred Leslie, Louis Ginsberg, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and many of the Floating Bear contributors.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Contents List
"Ordered 5 texts from Larry Wallrich." Mentions Alfred Leslie in connection with "H.P." and "JUNGLE;" (Paul) Blackburn, (William) McNaughton. Asks if "4 Young Lady Poets" would interfere with her other books.
Asks Di Prima to review Eyes in the Back of Our Heads by Denise Levertov, and asks who should review Cain's Book by Alex Trocchi.
Gives new address for "AB" (Spellman?), adds Bob Kaufman's name and address to mailing list, asks that another copy be sent to Ellie.
"Carl Soloman/ Pilgram State Hospital/ Brentwood, L.I."
Mentions several subscribers, asks if there is room on the back page of Floating Bear for a listing of quarterlies and books of note recieved recently.
"More so-called statements. I guess we can stick 'em in here & there (?) / Amor,/ Tio Roi"
Gives name and address of a subscriber, suggests he be added to list only if "he sends you some loot."
Sends "some of Ron's poems--maybe for use in some future Bear " (Ron Loewinsohn). Mentions poems by Joel (Oppenheimer), (Bill) Berkson, (Charles) Olson, (Philip) Whalen, (Bruce) Boyd, (Stephen) Jonas, (Stuart) Perkoff for future issues. Gives names and address for two new magazines ( Crucible and Outburst ) to be mentioned in Floating Bear .
Gives names and addresses of two new magazines to be mentioned: Evidence , which wants submissions, and Outcry .
Mentions several subscriptions. Suggests (John) Wieners, (Denise) Levertov, "guy from North Carolina" (Minor Davis?) for next issue.
Name and North Carolina address of Minor Davis.
Name and address of a subscriber.
Name and address of a subscriber.
Sends three subscribers' names, asks if (Ron) Loewinsohn is on mailing list, encloses letter from Ted regarding $50 contribution to Floating Bear from Herbert B. Lutz.
"Louis Ginsberg is Allen Ginsberg's father!"
Adds name and address to list.
Adds name and address to list.
Directs Kerouac's copies of Floating Bear to care of an Orlando, Florida address.
Suggests that poems by (Arthur?) Freeman, Marshall, (Gary) Snyder, (Daisy) Aldan be published in Bear .
Asks for three or four pieces of Di Prima's recent prose for an anthology of avant-garde American fiction. Discusses payment and specifications.
Informs her of times and address for an open performance of "Toilet."
Expresses satisfaction with the new Bear and hopes that it will continue. Says he can't be listed as an editor anymore, suggests Joel (Oppenheimer) or Frank (O'Hara) "could handle it from this end," meaning New York. Asks for certain back issues. Describes self as "hungover," mentions Edward Denby's 60th birthday party. "I teach the one class at The new school. Against everything anybody wants to feel. Gesture. Necessity, a vague social category, I must imagine. Not even corrupt." Says he saw her play at the Judson, briefly discusses Jimmy's performance in it. Asks that none of his poems on file at Bear be published, as "They haven't worn well at all."
Has "just gotten out of Bellevue, where I had been locked up for two weeks getting out from under Hepatitis (of the dirty needle variety)." Is recovering at his parents' house. Asks if she has found a publisher for the New Handbook , says Larry W. (Wallrich) and he are publishing "quite a few titles this Fall" and would be interested in her work or in "any other book you felt shd [sic] see the light." Gives press run and financial information, mailing instructions.
Asks if (Jean) Genet's "Man Condemned to Death" should be published as a Bear, discusses other possibilities for use of the piece. Has found three old poems in his files.
Name and address of Dave Ossman, a Bear contributor.
Says he liked "The Beach," especially the middle sections. Says authors in "4 Young Lady Poets" will tentatively be Di Prima, Barbara Guest, Barbara Moraff, and Rochelle Owens or Daisy Aldan. Says he would like to include "the jungle, the beach, & c." Mentions Alfred (Leslie), Paul (Blackburn), Larry Wallrich, and a "violent argument" between (Howard) Nemerov and "Ab" or "AB" (A.B. Spellman?) at Bennington. Briefly describes a reading by Die Neue Akademie with Joel (Oppenheimer), Max (Finstein), Gil (Gilbert Sorrentino), Joe Early, and Tony Weinberger for their new magazine "Al Que Quiere."